Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute News

CHIRI Vascular & Metabolic Symposium

By Kerrie Collier 20 October 2016 Events News Comments off

You are invited to the following event:
THE 2016 CHIRI VASCULAR AND METABOLIC SYMPOSIUM

Friday, 25 November 2016 from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (AWST)
Curtin University,
Bankwest Theatre, Building 200A, Room 220,
Kent Street
Bentley, WA 6102

The Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) will be hosting a one day symposium showcasing selected Vascular and Metabolic Research being done at CHIRI and by leading WA-based and National researchers. The symposium will feature presentations covering vascular disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic disease, as well as lipid and hepatic disorders.

To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-2016-chiri-vascular-and-metabolic-symposium-registration-27926624285

CHIRI Seminar Series 27/10/16

By Kerrie Collier 20 October 2016 Events News Special guests Comments off

Thursday, 27 October – 1.0 Darryl.Eyles 0pm-2.00pm – B401:002:LT

Prof. Darryl Eyles
Neurobiology Director
Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research
Queensland Brain Institute
The University of Queensland

“The impact of vitamin D deficiency on the developing brain and long-term outcomes in adult offspring.”

In collaboration with Prof John McGrath we have established that low levels of vitamin D at birth increase the risk of schizophrenia in later life in two independent large Danish case/control studies. I have also shown such exposures are associated with increased rates of autism in a large Dutch general population cohort. I have developed an animal model of Developmental Vitamin D (DVD) deficiency which produces phenotypes that mimic many of the symptoms of schizophrenia. In our latest study we have shown the hormonally active form of vitamin D abolishes all phenotypes in a leading inflammatory animal model of relevance to autism.

In this talk I will discuss our extensive data that indicates optimal vitamin D status is required for normal healthy brain development. The evidence obtained from our epidemiological studies is convergent with data obtained from our preclinical and cellular models indicating vitamin D is a powerful developmental neurosteroid. In the absence of this steroid, brain ontogeny is irreversibly affected leading to permanent molecular, cellular and functional brain abnormalities.

CHIRI People – Congratulations to Dr Lam

By Kerrie Collier 20 October 2016 Announcements News Comments off

Virginie Lam, School of Public Health has officially been conferred her PhD. Virginie completed a substantial PhD which included five first author publications and eleven co-authored publications. The title of Virginie’s thesis was: “An investigation of a vitamin D, ionised calcium and parathyroid hormone regulatory axis of cerebral capillary function: Implications for cognitive performance in ageing.”

Virginie’s co-supervisors were Dr Ryusuke Takechi and Professor Satvinder Dhaliwal.

Congratulations Virginie on your extraordinary achievement!

CHIRI-FC Champions of Curtin 5-a-side Outdoor Soccer

By Kerrie Collier 20 October 2016 News Comments off

The CHIRI-FC have been named champions of the Curtin 5-a-side Outdoor Soccer Tournament, after winning the final 5-3 on Wednesday this week. Team members include Abhijeet Deshmukh, Mohammed Yaro, Marco Falasca, Amy Black, Waheed Alrehaily, Mohd Sheeraz, Jordan Rowlands, Dorji, Kevin Keane, José Antonio Caparrós, Ricky Lareu, and Sam Siem. This is the second trophy in as many years, with the team taking out the Curtin Inter-Department Championship last year.

Congratulations!

Welcome

By Kerrie Collier 5 October 2016 News Comments off

Dear colleagues, welcome to the first CHIRI-Newsletter Blog. We have been eagerly anticipating this launch as it provides us with an effective and efficient way of keeping each other better informed. Please feel free to submit to Kerrie information that you would like shared via the CHIRI-Newsletter blog and if available, photographs by emailing chiri@curtin.edu.au.

Advice regarding your research success is always welcomed and a great way to share in each other’s achievements. Don’t be shy in letting us know of awards won; papers accepted for publication or research grants received.

Metabolomics adventures

By Kerrie Collier 5 October 2016 News Comments off

Thank you to Dr Rodrigo Carlessi for leading discussions with others on developing some in-house metabolomics capability linked to the CHIRI-mass spec capability. Some appropriate columns have been ordered to expand pilot investigations underway. In 2018, WA will launch a centralised phenomics capability of which CHIRI is partnering. However, compementary capabilities are being encouraged by partner organisations. If you are keen to hear more regarding pilot studies being considered, please contact Rodrigo for further information.

The Raine Study…

By Kerrie Collier 5 October 2016 News Opportunities Comments off

… recently held their annual scientific meeting and several presentations were presented by Faculty of Health Science Curtin staff. Keep in mind the Raine Foundation welcomes research enquiries nationally and internationally to access this extraordinarily cohort. There seems multiple opportunities for biomedical focussed studies.

Are you keeping abreast with the NHMRC?

By Kerrie Collier 5 October 2016 News Opportunities Comments off

Please consider subscribing to NHMRC Research Tracker [https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/media/subscription-service?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NHMRC%20Research%20Tracker%20%2030%20September%202016&utm_content=NHMRC%20Research%20Tracker%20%2030%20September%202016+CID_6c1ee83dea0bda1f5f698cfbfadd8115&utm_source=Mailbuild&utm_term=Subscribe

CHIRI People

By Kerrie Collier 5 October 2016 Announcements News Comments off

Dr Evelyn Deplazes, School of Biomedical Sciences, won the New Investigator Award at the Combined Biological Sciences Meeting held at UWA on 26 August 2016. The title of Dr Deplazes’ presentation was ‘Phospholipid Binding Activity of the Spider Venom Peptides ProTx-I and ProTx-II and its Relevance to the Inhibition of the Analgesic Target NaV1.7’.

Felipe Krupelis, PhD student, School of Biomedical Sciences, supervised by Professor Philip Newsholme, School of Biomedical Sciences, won second prize at a three minute thesis (3MT®) competition, held in building 213 at Curtin on 23 August. The competition was organised by Tania Lerch, Office of Research and Development. Felipe was awarded $1000 in prize money, in the form of a research grant, for his talk, ‘Neutrophil Extracellular Traps: our cells going fishing’. He competed in two heats before being selected for the final.

Lelinh Duong, honours student, School of Biomedical Sciences, Chee-Wai Wong, graduate student, School of Biomedical Sciences, and Omar El Askalani, graduate student, School of Biomedical Sciences, won poster prizes at the Combined Biological Sciences Meeting held at UWA on 26 August 2016.

Congratulations everyone!

2nd CHIRI-Focus on Microscopy Workshop

By Kerrie Collier 5 October 2016 Events News Technology Comments off

Save these dates!
Wednesday 16^th November – Presentations
Thursday 17^th November – Master Classes using CHIRI-based equipment

This workshop will combine technical talks on confocal microscopy as well as emerging and complementary techniques from around WA. These presentations will provide an overview of different applications to enable you to best design and run experiments. This will be followed by hands on instrument training with applications specialists. Come discuss the technology capabilities and principles of sample preparation/optimisation with the experts!